A PARTRIDGE FAMILY REUNION - Part 1
(One small note...we are visualizing the original 'Chris' in this story)
Hello, Shirley Partridge here. You remember me - the 'swinging' mother of those five groovy kids: Keith, Laurie, Danny, Chris and Tracy. I know it's been a while since you last heard from us as a group, but I thought that perhaps you'd like to know what life has been like these past fifteen years. Fifteen years! Has it really been that long since our first record, "I Think I Love You" hit the charts and rocketed The Partridge Family into pop history? Those fifteen years have brought such a myriad of changes, not only for we Partridges, but also for the world as a whole.
All the kids are grown now and pretty much on their own. My little Tracy is twenty-one and getting married any day now, if you can believe! Twenty-two year old Chris is in college, studying to be a doctor (every mother's dream!). Danny, my middle child, is now twenty-five and hosts his own radio show in the Midwest. Laurie, already twenty-nine, is a lawyer who specializes in women's rights (is anyone surprised?). She's been engaged and disengaged on a regular basis; "still searching for Mr. Right," she tells me. Finally, Keith my eldest, is thirty-one (he doesn't look a day over twenty!) and, true to his heart, is still in show business with a solo act that puts Mick Jagger to shame.
As you will see, I am extremely proud of every one of my children, and even prouder to have their latest story unfold. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, (re)meet the Partridge Family:
~~~~
The light was red at the intersection, and Tracy Partridge checked her hair in the rear-view mirror of her little VW Bug. The car had been a graduation present from the family, and was her pride and joy. Well, until Ken Murdock had come into her life. Tall and blond, he was the antithesis of any of her brothers. Not that she didn't love her three immensely talented brothers dearly. They just weren't the love of her life anymore. Ken was The One, The Only. The two had met in Tracy's sophomore year at San Pueblo Junior College; a chance meeting in the cafeteria and, for Tracy it was love at first sight. He was studying to be an actor, and Tracy was taking every math class they offered. She and Ken went out for coffee after class one evening and by the end of the semester, they were engaged, much to her mother's delight. Her siblings had remained single thus far, making Shirley fear she would never see a wedding, much less grandchildren. So, Tracy's news was big; big enough to spur a gathering of Partridges for the event that would take place one week from Saturday. She was anxious to see her brothers and sister again; it had been way too long since the last meeting. That was at Keith's first solo concert, if she remembered correctly. A whole five years ago!
A car honking broke her thoughts. She looked to see that the light had changed to green, and Tracy moved the VW into gear, turning left onto Sycamore Road.
###
San Pueblo airport was busy with summer travelers as Danny Partridge pulled his luggage from the huge metal carousel, looking around him for any familiar faces. Chris was supposed to meet him when his flight arrived from Boston at 2:00 p.m., but there was no sign of his little brother, as usual. The two were going to rent a car to get home, and Chris had all the information.
Lugging the huge suitcase, Danny managed to get it to the information desk. The girl behind the counter was cute, too cute, he thought, and he decided to put on some of the old Partridge charm.
"Hey, aren't you the girl on the cover of this month's Cosmo?" Danny smiled, leaning non-chalantly on the counter.
She rolled her eyes. "Can I help you?"
Funny, Danny thought. That line usually worked for Keith. "Uh, yeah. I need you to page somebody for me."
"Name?"
"Mine, or his?"
Again with the eyes. "What name do you want paged?"
"Chris Partridge. Dr. Chris Partridge. Have him meet me at the luggage carousel."
"Which terminal?"
"This one, whichever one this is."
The girl jotted it down on a note pad as Danny watched.
"Don't you want my name?" he asked.
Shaking her head, the girl took the microphone in her hand. "Dr. Partridge, Dr. Chris Partridge, please meet your party at Terminal B luggage carousel."
Danny grinned. "Nice voice. You should be on the radio. I have my own show in Chicago."
"How nice. You'd better get over there to meet your friend, the doctor." She turned away from the counter and Danny lost his smile. Wonder what Keith would do in this situation? he thought. Huh. Probably nothing. Keith wouldn't have been ignored.
"Danny!"
The redhead turned to see Chris, a few inches taller than the last time he'd seen him, waving him down. Pulling the suitcase up, Danny practically let it drag behind him.
Though they looked unlike as any brothers could, they acted exactly how brothers would, slapping one another on the back and telling each other how bad the other one looked. Tall and thin, Chris now sported eyeglasses, while Danny, on the other hand, was still his husky, stocky self. The fiery red hair had toned down a bit, but the freckles were all there.
"You're late," Danny said.
"I know. There was a bad storm over Colorado. Have you got the rental info?" Chris shouldered a huge book bag.
"Me? I thought you were taking care of that!"
"No, I told you to do it, because I was interning when you called. I didn't have time."
Danny moaned and sat down on his overstuffed suitcase. "Great. Now what? I doubt there's a car available."
Chris grinned crookedly. "Why don't you use your celebrity status and try and get one anyway?"
Danny uneasily glanced over at the information counter. "Well, why don't you use your Doctor status and do it?"
"What would I say?"
"I don't know. Tell them you have an emergency or something. Chee --do I have to think of everything?"
After mulling it over, Chris shook his head. "No, it wouldn't work. Why don't we take the bus? It's probably cheaper, anyway."
"Still chicken after all these years," Danny muttered, rising as Chris started for the door.
###
The smoky gray Mercedes looked out of place, even in 1985 San Pueblo, but Laurie Partridge wasn't paying much attention to the stares her vehicle was attracting. She was on a conference call with a client in L.A., and she wasn't a happy camper.
The speakerphone crackled as Laurie drove under a cement bridge, both hands on the wheel and anger creeping into her voice.
"You tell him we're going to sue for custody of the dogs anyway!" she snapped. "They are considered community property just as much as the dishwasher or the stove. I'll send his attorney a letter. Don't worry, Mrs. Hoffman. We'll get Laverne and Shirley back."
She pushed a button, disconnecting the phone as she slowed for a red light. An old, beat up car pulled up next to hers and she was startled to hear a horn honk. Looking over to her left, she saw the young man behind the wheel waving at her. Hesitantly, Laurie rolled down her window.
"Laurie Partridge, is it really you?" the man exclaimed.
Squinting, Laurie tried to drum up some recognition, but none came.
Sensing it, he leaned closer in her direction. "It's me, Doug Webster!"
Laurie's face brightened. "Doug! I'm sorry, but you look different! How are you?"
The light had turned green, and both drivers looked up. "How about meeting me over at the Taco Stand?" Doug called to her.
"Well, I'm kind of in a hurry...why don't we meet there later, say seven?"
He grinned. "I'll be there! By the way, nice wheels!"
Laurie laughed as the two of them pulled away from the light.
###
In the back seat of the speeding cab, Keith Partridge took a moment to sleep. His hectic schedule prevented him from getting much shut-eye, and he had to grab it whenever he could, whether it be on a plane, in a limo, in a dressing room right before or after a show, or like now, in a taxi on the way to the airport.
Jay, his manager, sat beside him, letting his meal ticket get his rest, hanging on for dear life as the driver sped through downtown Philadelphia. Watching the traffic whiz by him at what seemed a thoroughly unsafe speed, Jay sat forward, tapping on the glass partition in front of him. The driver looked back with a scowl.
"Excuse me, but how much longer before we get to the airport? His plane leaves in half an hour." Jay tried to speak loudly enough for the driver to hear him, but not so loud as to awaken Keith.
"Ten minutes," was the curt answer.
Jay was not satisfied. It was the same answer to the same question he'd asked back at the hotel. "Ten minutes." Finally deciding that it was the only English the driver knew, Jay sat back, glancing over at Keith as he dozed against the window. The kid had certainly earned his sleep. It had been nothing but one night stands for two months, with hardly a break in between.
The cab hit a pothole, and the impact was enough to lift the driver and his passengers from their seats, waking Keith. The young singer sat up, his eyes still heavy with sleep. "What...what was that? Where are we? What's going on?"
"We're almost to the airport. I think. This gentleman seems to think that we're only ten minutes away." Jay shot the back of the driver's head a withering look.
Keith nodded, glancing out the window. "Going awfully fast, isn't he?"
"I guess I shouldn't have told him we were in a hurry." Jay smiled as the driver took the airport exit on only two wheels.
It was a miracle that they ended up in front of the terminal alive. The driver unloaded the bags while Jay waved down a porter and Keith checked his familiar blue duffel bag for his ticket and his personal effects. Jay paid the driver, who spoke to him in his broken English.
"You want me to wait for you?"
"No!" Jay shook his head emphatically. "I'm...catching another flight later."
Shrugging, the driver jumped back into his cab and screeched off while Keith laughed at the look on his manager's face. "Liar," he teased.
"I'd rather WALK back to the hotel than go through that again." Jay and Keith entered the terminal. "Look, why don't go ahead to the VIP lounge, and I'll call your mother for you. Maybe you can catch a few winks before your flight takes off."
"Okay, thanks. Hey, don't forget to tell her about the TV interview tonight." Keith smiled wearily.
"I won't. I mean, it's the most important part, right? Now, get going before you're recognized. Keep your head down. I'll meet you in there."
Keith nodded, moving away. This was the interesting part, getting through the crowds without being spotted; the part he hated/loved. After all these years, people would still stop him and ask for an autograph or a photo, even though he'd changed his looks with the times. The long shaggy mane of the old Keith Partridge was gone; he wore his hair just below the collar, now, and he sported an earring, much to his mother's dismay. It was only a gold stud, and he didn't wear it all the time. It must be the eyes, Shirley once told him. They were, after all, the mirror of the soul and Keith's were so dark and exotic; the first thing one noticed about him, besides his smile.
So, he did as Jay advised and kept his gaze focused on the floor, weaving through the throngs of people. He was anxious to get some more sleep. He'd been especially tired and hadn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks, now, though he hadn't dared tell Jay or anyone, for that matter. At first he chalked it up to this last tour: night after night, going from Boston to Miami to New Orleans to Philadelphia and everywhere in between, but he'd had rougher schedules. Maybe he would get Chris to check him over once he got home. Just the thought of Chris being a doctor amused him. He remembered when the kid wouldn't even touch the dissected frog Danny brought home for a science project once. Funny how life throws you curve balls. He soon found himself at the VIP door and relieved, he slipped inside.
continued...
(One small note...we are visualizing the original 'Chris' in this story)
Hello, Shirley Partridge here. You remember me - the 'swinging' mother of those five groovy kids: Keith, Laurie, Danny, Chris and Tracy. I know it's been a while since you last heard from us as a group, but I thought that perhaps you'd like to know what life has been like these past fifteen years. Fifteen years! Has it really been that long since our first record, "I Think I Love You" hit the charts and rocketed The Partridge Family into pop history? Those fifteen years have brought such a myriad of changes, not only for we Partridges, but also for the world as a whole.
All the kids are grown now and pretty much on their own. My little Tracy is twenty-one and getting married any day now, if you can believe! Twenty-two year old Chris is in college, studying to be a doctor (every mother's dream!). Danny, my middle child, is now twenty-five and hosts his own radio show in the Midwest. Laurie, already twenty-nine, is a lawyer who specializes in women's rights (is anyone surprised?). She's been engaged and disengaged on a regular basis; "still searching for Mr. Right," she tells me. Finally, Keith my eldest, is thirty-one (he doesn't look a day over twenty!) and, true to his heart, is still in show business with a solo act that puts Mick Jagger to shame.
As you will see, I am extremely proud of every one of my children, and even prouder to have their latest story unfold. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, (re)meet the Partridge Family:
~~~~
The light was red at the intersection, and Tracy Partridge checked her hair in the rear-view mirror of her little VW Bug. The car had been a graduation present from the family, and was her pride and joy. Well, until Ken Murdock had come into her life. Tall and blond, he was the antithesis of any of her brothers. Not that she didn't love her three immensely talented brothers dearly. They just weren't the love of her life anymore. Ken was The One, The Only. The two had met in Tracy's sophomore year at San Pueblo Junior College; a chance meeting in the cafeteria and, for Tracy it was love at first sight. He was studying to be an actor, and Tracy was taking every math class they offered. She and Ken went out for coffee after class one evening and by the end of the semester, they were engaged, much to her mother's delight. Her siblings had remained single thus far, making Shirley fear she would never see a wedding, much less grandchildren. So, Tracy's news was big; big enough to spur a gathering of Partridges for the event that would take place one week from Saturday. She was anxious to see her brothers and sister again; it had been way too long since the last meeting. That was at Keith's first solo concert, if she remembered correctly. A whole five years ago!
A car honking broke her thoughts. She looked to see that the light had changed to green, and Tracy moved the VW into gear, turning left onto Sycamore Road.
###
San Pueblo airport was busy with summer travelers as Danny Partridge pulled his luggage from the huge metal carousel, looking around him for any familiar faces. Chris was supposed to meet him when his flight arrived from Boston at 2:00 p.m., but there was no sign of his little brother, as usual. The two were going to rent a car to get home, and Chris had all the information.
Lugging the huge suitcase, Danny managed to get it to the information desk. The girl behind the counter was cute, too cute, he thought, and he decided to put on some of the old Partridge charm.
"Hey, aren't you the girl on the cover of this month's Cosmo?" Danny smiled, leaning non-chalantly on the counter.
She rolled her eyes. "Can I help you?"
Funny, Danny thought. That line usually worked for Keith. "Uh, yeah. I need you to page somebody for me."
"Name?"
"Mine, or his?"
Again with the eyes. "What name do you want paged?"
"Chris Partridge. Dr. Chris Partridge. Have him meet me at the luggage carousel."
"Which terminal?"
"This one, whichever one this is."
The girl jotted it down on a note pad as Danny watched.
"Don't you want my name?" he asked.
Shaking her head, the girl took the microphone in her hand. "Dr. Partridge, Dr. Chris Partridge, please meet your party at Terminal B luggage carousel."
Danny grinned. "Nice voice. You should be on the radio. I have my own show in Chicago."
"How nice. You'd better get over there to meet your friend, the doctor." She turned away from the counter and Danny lost his smile. Wonder what Keith would do in this situation? he thought. Huh. Probably nothing. Keith wouldn't have been ignored.
"Danny!"
The redhead turned to see Chris, a few inches taller than the last time he'd seen him, waving him down. Pulling the suitcase up, Danny practically let it drag behind him.
Though they looked unlike as any brothers could, they acted exactly how brothers would, slapping one another on the back and telling each other how bad the other one looked. Tall and thin, Chris now sported eyeglasses, while Danny, on the other hand, was still his husky, stocky self. The fiery red hair had toned down a bit, but the freckles were all there.
"You're late," Danny said.
"I know. There was a bad storm over Colorado. Have you got the rental info?" Chris shouldered a huge book bag.
"Me? I thought you were taking care of that!"
"No, I told you to do it, because I was interning when you called. I didn't have time."
Danny moaned and sat down on his overstuffed suitcase. "Great. Now what? I doubt there's a car available."
Chris grinned crookedly. "Why don't you use your celebrity status and try and get one anyway?"
Danny uneasily glanced over at the information counter. "Well, why don't you use your Doctor status and do it?"
"What would I say?"
"I don't know. Tell them you have an emergency or something. Chee --do I have to think of everything?"
After mulling it over, Chris shook his head. "No, it wouldn't work. Why don't we take the bus? It's probably cheaper, anyway."
"Still chicken after all these years," Danny muttered, rising as Chris started for the door.
###
The smoky gray Mercedes looked out of place, even in 1985 San Pueblo, but Laurie Partridge wasn't paying much attention to the stares her vehicle was attracting. She was on a conference call with a client in L.A., and she wasn't a happy camper.
The speakerphone crackled as Laurie drove under a cement bridge, both hands on the wheel and anger creeping into her voice.
"You tell him we're going to sue for custody of the dogs anyway!" she snapped. "They are considered community property just as much as the dishwasher or the stove. I'll send his attorney a letter. Don't worry, Mrs. Hoffman. We'll get Laverne and Shirley back."
She pushed a button, disconnecting the phone as she slowed for a red light. An old, beat up car pulled up next to hers and she was startled to hear a horn honk. Looking over to her left, she saw the young man behind the wheel waving at her. Hesitantly, Laurie rolled down her window.
"Laurie Partridge, is it really you?" the man exclaimed.
Squinting, Laurie tried to drum up some recognition, but none came.
Sensing it, he leaned closer in her direction. "It's me, Doug Webster!"
Laurie's face brightened. "Doug! I'm sorry, but you look different! How are you?"
The light had turned green, and both drivers looked up. "How about meeting me over at the Taco Stand?" Doug called to her.
"Well, I'm kind of in a hurry...why don't we meet there later, say seven?"
He grinned. "I'll be there! By the way, nice wheels!"
Laurie laughed as the two of them pulled away from the light.
###
In the back seat of the speeding cab, Keith Partridge took a moment to sleep. His hectic schedule prevented him from getting much shut-eye, and he had to grab it whenever he could, whether it be on a plane, in a limo, in a dressing room right before or after a show, or like now, in a taxi on the way to the airport.
Jay, his manager, sat beside him, letting his meal ticket get his rest, hanging on for dear life as the driver sped through downtown Philadelphia. Watching the traffic whiz by him at what seemed a thoroughly unsafe speed, Jay sat forward, tapping on the glass partition in front of him. The driver looked back with a scowl.
"Excuse me, but how much longer before we get to the airport? His plane leaves in half an hour." Jay tried to speak loudly enough for the driver to hear him, but not so loud as to awaken Keith.
"Ten minutes," was the curt answer.
Jay was not satisfied. It was the same answer to the same question he'd asked back at the hotel. "Ten minutes." Finally deciding that it was the only English the driver knew, Jay sat back, glancing over at Keith as he dozed against the window. The kid had certainly earned his sleep. It had been nothing but one night stands for two months, with hardly a break in between.
The cab hit a pothole, and the impact was enough to lift the driver and his passengers from their seats, waking Keith. The young singer sat up, his eyes still heavy with sleep. "What...what was that? Where are we? What's going on?"
"We're almost to the airport. I think. This gentleman seems to think that we're only ten minutes away." Jay shot the back of the driver's head a withering look.
Keith nodded, glancing out the window. "Going awfully fast, isn't he?"
"I guess I shouldn't have told him we were in a hurry." Jay smiled as the driver took the airport exit on only two wheels.
It was a miracle that they ended up in front of the terminal alive. The driver unloaded the bags while Jay waved down a porter and Keith checked his familiar blue duffel bag for his ticket and his personal effects. Jay paid the driver, who spoke to him in his broken English.
"You want me to wait for you?"
"No!" Jay shook his head emphatically. "I'm...catching another flight later."
Shrugging, the driver jumped back into his cab and screeched off while Keith laughed at the look on his manager's face. "Liar," he teased.
"I'd rather WALK back to the hotel than go through that again." Jay and Keith entered the terminal. "Look, why don't go ahead to the VIP lounge, and I'll call your mother for you. Maybe you can catch a few winks before your flight takes off."
"Okay, thanks. Hey, don't forget to tell her about the TV interview tonight." Keith smiled wearily.
"I won't. I mean, it's the most important part, right? Now, get going before you're recognized. Keep your head down. I'll meet you in there."
Keith nodded, moving away. This was the interesting part, getting through the crowds without being spotted; the part he hated/loved. After all these years, people would still stop him and ask for an autograph or a photo, even though he'd changed his looks with the times. The long shaggy mane of the old Keith Partridge was gone; he wore his hair just below the collar, now, and he sported an earring, much to his mother's dismay. It was only a gold stud, and he didn't wear it all the time. It must be the eyes, Shirley once told him. They were, after all, the mirror of the soul and Keith's were so dark and exotic; the first thing one noticed about him, besides his smile.
So, he did as Jay advised and kept his gaze focused on the floor, weaving through the throngs of people. He was anxious to get some more sleep. He'd been especially tired and hadn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks, now, though he hadn't dared tell Jay or anyone, for that matter. At first he chalked it up to this last tour: night after night, going from Boston to Miami to New Orleans to Philadelphia and everywhere in between, but he'd had rougher schedules. Maybe he would get Chris to check him over once he got home. Just the thought of Chris being a doctor amused him. He remembered when the kid wouldn't even touch the dissected frog Danny brought home for a science project once. Funny how life throws you curve balls. He soon found himself at the VIP door and relieved, he slipped inside.
continued...